On July 29, the drone special deregulation zone in Yangju City comes into effect, advancing the sophistication of K-drone delivery and the commercialization of advanced drone technology, signaling a leap towards becoming a ‘drone industry hub in northern Gyeonggi.’
Yangju City has been finally selected for the ‘drone special deregulation zone’ designation contest organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.
Yangju City, a pivotal turning point in fostering the drone industry, an essential future growth driver, announced on the 31st that they have been selected for the designation contest, officially launching the zone on July 29, 2025.
This designation is notable for being the result of Yangju’s ongoing drone industry development policies and lays a strong foundation for its rise as a drone industry hub in northern Gyeonggi.
The drone special deregulation zone is designed to facilitate the rapid commercialization and free demonstration of service models utilizing drones by significantly easing or exempting pre-regulations related to flying (such as safety certifications, flight approvals, and special flight approvals).
Through this designation, Yangju City plans to accelerate the attraction of drone companies and technological innovation while focusing all efforts on realizing advanced drone services experienced by citizens.
The designated zone in Yangju consists of two areas. The first area, around Okjeong-dong 2 (4.1㎢), focuses on developing and demonstrating an urban drone delivery commercialization model. Yangju City has already been selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s ‘drone demonstration city construction project’ for two consecutive years (2024-2025) and has been promoting K-drone delivery services.
The second area, around Jangheung Natural Recreation Forest (0.18㎢), will serve as a base for developing specialized drone delivery service models for tourists and mountainous areas. This will offer a unique experience by blending beautiful natural landscapes with advanced drone technology, expected to contribute to the revitalization of regional tourism.
In January 2024, Yangju City established a drone policy team to systematically and professionally foster the drone industry.
A representative from Yangju City stated, “The designation of the drone special deregulation zone marks a turning point for Yangju as a leading city in future advanced industries in northern Gyeonggi. We plan to leverage this designation to actively attract companies with innovative drone technologies and develop diverse services, allowing citizens to experience the convenience of drones in their daily lives.”